Sunday, August 02, 2015, 5:37 p.m.

Myanmar says 22 dead in Kachin fighting this month

YANGON, Myanmar  Myanmar says fighting between government troops and ethnic rebels in the northeastern, strife-torn state of Kachin has left at least 22 people dead this month.

The clashes in Kachin come despite efforts by President Thein Sein's government to forge a nationwide cease-fire agreement with all armed ethnic groups -- a deadline that has repeatedly been pushed back because of ongoing clashes.

The state-run Kyemon daily reported Sunday that the latest violence erupted on April 4 after members of the Kachin Independence Army ambushed an army column in the Man Wein Gyi region.

It said the "mopping up" operation that followed resulted in the capture of a rebel camp.